Banner of Ardent

Banner of Ardent is an artifact in Tyranny.

Background
This fraction of the Banner of Peace was worn by the First Speaker of Ardent, a diplomat of the former Free Cities.

The completed assemblage once represented unity in trade and war. The government of Ardent was wise in the way of contract and treaty negotiation, and ceremonial gestures like these were the currency of the realm. In spite of its magnanimous posturing, Ardent was a place of steep taxes and regulation, and mutually-beneficial trade agreements were seldom available or even possible by design. The very thing that made Ardent strong also made it isolated and vulnerable. Having alienated its neighbors through a series of self-serving commerce deals, no one answered the call for aid when the forces of Kyros amassed at Ardent's borders. The city was taken with little more than a formal missive and terms of peace.

Though the Banner of Ardent is a historical example of conflict resolution achieved prior to the coming of Kyros, it is also frayed on the edges - evidence of being ripped from a larger, more unified mass - which is a more appropriate symbol for the city's legacy.

Location

 * Burning Library: Available if you ended the edict of fire by replacing the Silent Archive with another artifact. During Act II, if you chose to save the library, after ending the edict go back to the south west corner of the first floor map, via backtracking from the cavern. The lava has partially receded and you will find several enemies, including a Havoc. The artifact is on a desk.